Frequently Asked Questions

Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP veterans and serving members who have been diagnosed with an Operational Stress Injury (OSI) or PTSD as a result of their military or policing service, and who live in, or are moving to, Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador). Exceptions may be considered for successor dogs.

Start with the short intake screening form on our Apply page. If you meet the criteria, we'll contact you within a week to start the full application. Once your application package is complete, you're placed on our wait list.

A complete package includes:

• A referral letter
• A requisition describing the specific tasks you need your service dog to perform
• Information about your living environment, such as your home, whether you own or rent, and your family
• Information about your health, such as your activity level and any other conditions (for example, mobility concerns or diabetes)

We'll walk you through each part after your screening form.

The typical wait from a completed application to your placement class is about 18 months. It can be longer, because placements depend on funding and on dogs being available. We work hard to keep the wait list as short as possible.

Yes. Please email info.pawsfurthought@gmail.com to discuss a successor dog. The 5-day training in Concordia is required for successor dogs as well as first dogs.

Every dog is trained and certified by CARES, Inc. (Canine Assistance, Rehabilitation and Education Services) in Concordia, Kansas. CARES has placed nearly 2,200 assistance dogs since 1993, and Paws Fur Thought represents CARES for pairing service dogs with veterans in Atlantic Canada.

You'll attend a mandatory 5-day training session with your service dog at CARES in Concordia, Kansas, where you learn to work with your dog as a team before you bring them home. New handlers travel together in small groups, usually three, and a Paws Fur Thought volunteer travels with the group to make sure everything goes smoothly throughout the trip and the training week.

Paws Fur Thought covers the cost of your service dog, your flights, and your accommodation in Concordia. Rental vehicles are organized by Paws Fur Thought and we try to carpool whenever possible. The drive from the Wichita airport to Concordia is about 2 hours and 15 minutes. Meals are not covered.

No. A service dog is trained and tested for public access and task-trained to help their handler with a specific disability, such as OSI/PTSD intervention. In Nova Scotia, service dogs are covered by the Service Dog Act.

Please don't pet, call, or feed a working service dog without asking the handler first. The dog is on the job, and distractions can make it harder for them to help their handler.

Paws Fur Thought is a small, volunteer-led organization. Our volunteers coordinate each placement, from the first screening form to escorting new handlers to training in Concordia. We are a recognized provider in the Wounded Warriors Canada Service Dog Program, and Wounded Warriors Canada, a registered Canadian charity, looks after the financial and charitable side of our work, including donations and funding.

Donations are made through Wounded Warriors Canada. See how to donate for the steps to make sure your gift supports Paws Fur Thought.